Is Terence Crawford the best of his era after defeating Canelo Alvarez?

Terence Crawford understood he was chasing immortality when he stepped into the ring to face Canelo Alvarez. His opponent, the 35-year-old Alvarez, a native of Mexico, who is considered an all-time great and many contend is the best his country has ever produced, wasn't Crawford's most daunting adversary. At 37 (he turned 38 on September 28, two weeks after the match), Crawford was battling a more formidable foe — legacy.

- By DERREL JOHNSON Special to the AmNews

his standing in boxing history with a September 15 victory over Canelo Alvarez at Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas (Photo courtesy of Netflix)

The Omaha, Nebraska-born and bred Crawford has held 18 separate major world championships in five weight classes and is the second male ever to be an undisputed world champion in three weight classes in the four-belt era. But an argument can be made as to whether he is the best of his generation, and in conversations as to being equal to or better than immortals such as Sugar Ray Robinson, Sugar Ray Leonard, Roberto Duran, and his contemporary Floyd Mayweather Jr.